FAs exchange technical know-how

The relationship between UEFA and its member associations – one of the cornerstones of European football over 60 years – is reinforced by the constant exchange of vital expertise and knowledge between the 54 associations for the overall well-being of football on this continent.

Such exchanges are particularly crucial in the technical sector, to improve the quality of the game at a variety of levels. Consequently, the know-how transmitted between coaches and other technical experts from all four corners of Europe as part of the UEFA Study Group Scheme (SGS) is proving to be of special benefit.

The programme, launched in 2008, is based on associations, large and small, swapping information and good practices. The crucial objective is to raise pan-European standards for the common good.

The Study Group Scheme is now into a new season – the second of a two-year cycle – and the focus is on three main pillars: coach education, women's football and grassroots football.

Several national associations travel to a host association, sending experts in relevant areas for discussions, practical and theoretical work that should culminate in everyone having learned and discovered new elements, taking inspiration for their work at home, and absorbing ideas that might be assimilated into a country's own domestic football.

Coach education seminars centre in particular on the UEFA Fitness for Football programme, which seeks to bring together football training and fitness training for players' maximum benefit. A successful pilot phase is now giving way to seminars across Europe under the Study Group Scheme banner. Also included under the coach education pillar are seminars related to the UEFA B licence and the UEFA elite youth A licence.

Belgium's coach education director Kris Van Der Haegen is a fervent supporter of the SGS: "The [scheme] is the appropriate tool to bring you new ideas and inspiration to implement in your own coach education system and coaching culture," he says. "As coach education is the best tool for the development of our football, we look forward to meeting European colleagues to discuss football and to raise the bar for our coaches. Thanks to these steps forward, our football talent can flourish."

With women's football continuing to flourish at every level, the Study Group Scheme's focus is on the youth sector – in particular, elite youth development and how girls can achieve their potential across Europe, and how associations' youth national teams can progress in the future.

Grassroots football plays an essential role in the game, and UEFA's philosophy is that football's elite levels will struggle to flourish without healthy foundations. The SGS grassroots seminars see associations looking at the latest developments surrounding the UEFA Grassroots Charter, signed by all 54 member associations and which encourages them to continually nurture and improve their grassroots work.

Volunteers who give their free time in various capacities are vital cogs in the grassroots football wheel, and grassroots seminars under the scheme concentrate on encouraging volunteers to come forward and contribute to the game in whichever function they choose.

A total of 53 seminars relating to the three Study Group Scheme pillars, and hosted by 19 associations, are being staged during the two-year cycle, with 27 of these scheduled for the 2015/16 season. Another season in which to share wisdom, with every country fully committed to sharing for everyone's benefit. The winner is European football ...